Chai recipe

Since I drink chai mostly all mornings, I try not to make it too thick.
Light and spiced, accomodating the body and nature's condition for that day.

Recently, since the weather is cold, I like to add some grated ginger.

Recipe for Chai:
1. Pour 1/2 cup of water in pan
2. Add 1 tbspn black tea leaves
3. Add 3 cardamon pods and grate a piece of ginger
4. Pour in 1/2 cup of cow's milk
5. Add 2 tbspn of jaggary (kibi-sugar)
6. Sprinkle in cardamon & nutmeg powder
7. Stir, and let it boil. Turn off heat before the liquid flows out of the pan!

Add cloves for a variety!

Such a warming drink for the cold. Pacifies Vata.

Yesterday I bought wome Saffron and crushed almonds which I plan to use for Badam Milk, a sleeping tonic for evening time!

Below a western breakfast:)

 

And cooked poha

(From the night before)

A lightly digested meal,

poha with tofu and veggies in konbu soup!

with avocado:)

(tonight)

First full moon 2013

 

The wonders and love of life lays in its unexpectedness, spontaniety and surprises!

My day turned out to be a rollercoaster! Both physically and mentally.

Now here I am recapping the day, that resulted finally, in pleasure and a sense of satisfaction...
everything coming together in its own sort of way.

Home to Yoga now, going back to family and a full moon.

Om.

......................
Be one with nature. Be a human being. Be the special you within.

Being inspired by Maya Tiwari, a book that flew into my hands!

Physical and mental health coexist. They work together, positively and negatively.
It's true and I feel it, every day, every minute, every second with my breath.
......................

Above, so much sun and good vibes un Azabu-juban!
Tidy and clean studio, circulating the air, diffusing aroma, relaxing.

Breathe.

The moon energy at its highest; element is water.

Amplifies our emotions, and has a large influence on the body, which is 75% water.

Stay stable, keep steady, peaceful and calm.

Meditate.

Positivity will increase, so stay positive.

Be happy:)
 

Saturdays.

I totally lost track of time and started a 'brunch' at 2pm with one of my favorite couples.

When its cold out and there is less energy to move about,
it's a good thing to make plans to spend time with good company, rather than laying around:)

Thinking about the never-changing bond, but at the same time "growing up" together in a good way.

Cherish friendship. Love.

Above is the tartine set from Spiral Cafe in Omotesando. A new idea for my kitchen!

A break to follow: Apple Danish and Darjeeling!

 

Honey be raw.

is full of Ojas!

Kitchari color

Never the same.

The thoughts, my day, ingredients, the weather...

every factor makes a difference in the kitchari that day.

Thinking Rhubarb.

Pleasant time, smiles, food, wine and ambience, including talks on cultures, religion, perception and beliefs.

New encounters and slow food at La Fornace, Komazawa-Daigaku.

An Italian lunch course including:

Fresh campagne bread from the oven, fennel salami & stewed lentil beans, mixed bean & vegetable zuppa, and chestnut crepe with whipped cheese, tiramisu style.

The Chef's homemade Rhubarb Jam (from his homeland Nagano) as a souvenir home:) Devoured at home with natural-yeast toast from Le Chui.

Balance and individuality.

Teaching is learning.

Obstacles makes us stronger.

All experiences have a meaning.

Have balance in life. Look again, are you tending to one side? Are you so focused that you can't see anything else? Sometimes you learn from seeing, hearing, percieving the opposite. There's new discoveries, things you've missed out living in your little world. It's not about being a challenger, or getting out of your comfort zone, but just give a bit of space for different and new perspectives.

Life is beautiful. Every-day is learning. Enjoy every bit of it!

Don't compare. Don't try to copy and be something you're not. Make effort, but be yourself. Keep making effort and keep growing. Work with what you have! Never too much but never too little.

Cherish your individuality.

Balance:)

Sthira and sukham. Strength and comfort.
Root and rebound. Active and restorative.
Challenge and restrain...and the list goes on.

ghee and lips

New cure for cracked lips. Say "Ghee".

 

life and birth

 

my best friend's baby! Beauty of Life. Love & Friendship, and Family.

 

Glow

No make-up or face wash or anything from the surface will give you "that" glow.

It comes from the inner. Your heart, motivation, actions, lifestyle, thoughts all are a reflection.

It's not (always) about changing environments (although they do help!) but its about YOU, and up to you.

Living with nature. Being one with nature. I realize how important this is now. And you come to this realization when you actually put your words into your actions.

Above is fresh herb tea at Cafe & Meal Muji

AND

Ghunguroo in Omotesando

(Tasty paratha (chapati) and two kinds of curry for 1080, with unsweetened chai!)

 

Appreciation

With a whole new lifestyle, a whole new mindset, I'm moving forward.

Step by step it is, but am so grateful for my family and friends, who are and have been my support.

The experiences, the positive energy, the motivation and happiness. Love and kindness. Everything.

Work hand in hand. Give and recieve. Its the natural cycle.

Be positive, be truthful, be compassionate, be peaceful, laugh a lot!, maintain your health, be for others, keep clean, don't be impulsive, don't sweat the small stuff, have manners, appreciate beauty, work and study, but dont try TOO hard!

Rice Cooker Kitchari （炊飯器キチュリ）

So, I guess I was too hungry for kitchari, that I filled my pressure cooker up to more than it can handle.

It felt danger right away, and triggered the safety valve,melting a hole through it right away.

Here I was now, waiting for the safety valve to arrive in the mail and decided, what a great oppurtunity to try it in the rice cooker.

Result: Five stars for taste, texture and time & simplicity for preperation.

For approximately two:

1. Wash the 1/6 cup moong and 1/3 cup rice and set aside soaked in water.
2. In a small pan, heat 2 tbspn ghee. Add 1 teaspn mustard seeds and when they start to sizzle on the outside, add same amount of cumin seeds. Enjoy the aroma dissipate and add a pinch of hing and grated ginger. Turn off heat.
3. Drain rice and water and pop them into the cooker. Add 2 cups of water.
4. Pour in #2
5. Sprinkle in turmeric, coriander powder and salt.
6. Roughly mix, close the lid and push the start button.
7. Add and mix in freshly chopped coriander!

As a rice cooker is essential in any Japanese home, I've added the recipe below in Japanese as well.

炊飯器キチュリのレシピ

お米とムング豆を洗い、水に浸けて置いておく。
小さいフライパンにギーを暖め、マスタードシードを入れ、回りに泡がでてきたら同量のクミンを投入。良いか香りがしてきたらヒングをひとつまみ、擦った生姜を入れ、火を消す。
炊飯器に水切りしたお米と豆を入れ、水を2カップ。
フライパンのものを流し入れ、ターメリック、コリアンダーパウダー、岩塩を入れる。
軽く混ぜてスウィッチを押す！
出来たら新鮮なコリアンダーを入れ、混ぜる！

Remember though, there's more ojas in cooking it thoroughly in a pot, but its always nice to have a 'plan B'! Try some fennel seeds on top!

Keep moving

Thoughts will keep coming

but don't follow them,
don't expand them

let go.

let it all just flow like the river.

Yogascitta vritti nirodhah  -Yoga is the restraint of the modifications of the mind-stuff

I'm so lucky to be here, to have this life. the experiences and oppurtunities.

Very refreshed, and psyched for Year 28 of this life which starts today:)

Above is from SOHOLM CAFE at Shonan Terrace Mall.
Spiced Swedish milk tea and biscotti. Wherever we are in the world, we think a like in the cold!

Surroundings.

Surrond yourself with positive people and positive environments.

The field or atmosphere may be completely different from what you're used to at times, but make sure you feel and follow the positive vibes!

Catching up with a friend in Ajanta in Kojimachi (Indian in Tokyo since 1957!)

Can't tell if the chapatis are homemade, but they were warm for sure. They're not phulka, but its nice to have the the rich kind applied with oil occaisionaly too. The roti may have been a good choice as they're made in the tandoor. Dhal is fresh, non oily, and green chili & seeds is flavorful.
(Still, 1300 yen seems a bit expensive)

Don't miss roasted fennel seeds at the end!

Have a little faith in me

Just dive in!

When you meet new people, and experience new settings, you realize that YOUR "ordinary" isn't the standard criteria.

Which means what you thought was so normal is actually so special and rare, a characteristic & individuality that makes you, you.

You've made so much effort, with passion and love. Don't be afraid to express it. Don't be reluctant and think that 'you're not good enough', because you are, and you contribute and bring a spark (you are the spark!) in your kind of way.

Thank you. Keep moving. Enjoy, practice, study, love and laugh. Give it your all!

hay de todo en la viña del senor  -it takes all sorts to make the world

and,

nunca es tarde para aprender  -its never too late to learn

Because its the season...

 

Anno-imo

I had to post this, because its sweet potato season, and various areas in Japan are famous for the sweetest and tastiest ripe sweet potatoes...

It's called "Anno-imo", from the Kyushu (South) area of Japan. It's distinctive feature is the texture, the moist smoothness, similiar to the creamy texture of the perfectly fine mashed potato.
 

Heavenly Chapatis!

I just finished a fresh hot off the pan chapati smeared with ghee and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar!

What a treat. This was the last bit of dough from last night.

Little by little, I'm starting to get the hang of it, and I am just in awe everytime I have a bit of a hot homemade chapati.

(How can one live without?)

Devouring it, I forgot to take a picture, but below are vegetable subji with chapati from last night:



The Vegetable Subji.

(Capsicum, Carrots and Onions with ghee, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, hing, turmeric, salt and masala. Picture two is after cooking on low heat with lid for 15 minutes. Garnish with fresh coriander!)



 

It's really, all in the mind.

Today I had to be in Shibuya for a meeting in the morning.

I left my home at almost exactly the same time, same route, to the same station I used to work at.

It had been three months since I left work.

I felt good, despite the crowded train overloaded with people. I felt light, and the salaryman's jacket in my face didn't bother me much, because this was not going to be the dreadful EVERYDAY experience for me.

Instead, I felt satisfaction in being a 'pro',knowing how to be on, get off the train, and knowing the convenient exit out.

Shibuya at this time, NEVER EVER felt this refreshing!

The crossing looked like a different place.

And I felt all the weight I used to burden on my shoulders all disappear.

Before work in those days I used to DREAM about just 'skipping' work that day and sit at a starbucks while everyone rushed with miserable looks to work.
(Don't get me wrong, I was a part of that too!)

But now, I'm, HERE.

At Starbucks on fire street. At 8:45am. Enjoying my latte.Feeling happiness. Finding peace in my heart.
So, afterall, it wasn't the location I disliked, it's all about how you percieve it.

IT'S ALL IN THE MIND:)

Practice, experience, learn, study, challenge, enjoy, love, and all will follow.

Om Shanti.

Ayurvedic everyday.

It's funny how recently I observe people and notice the dominant dosha in them.

For example, my yoga teacher today: She's so lovely for her kapha eyes, of reassurance, stability and steadiness. The muscular firm body is of kapha too. (But there's dryness, coarsness in the voice and has talkative traits, so must be kapha-vata...)

On the streets I think about how he or she might have backaches, or weak bones, cold hands and feet, or maybe excess mucus in the body.
(Was that a dry cough, or a wet cough??)

When you start to see these in people you notice how important it is to know the individuality of each body, and moreover to take care of YOUR imbalance, what YOUR body needs.

Whether it may be mental, or physical.

Giving advice to friends and family, and noticing the traits for students in yoga will be helpful to at least give them a hand in creating a balance in the body & mind.

Again today, I'm mesmerized by the wonders of yoga & ayurveda.

Namaste

Cooking made easy(er)

I would definitely have to give first prize to the Hawkins pressure cooker (1.5 L).

Never did I imagine cooking beans and rice and vegetables....could be done so quick and perfect.

The sound of steam and aroma adds to the kitchen experience too!

Kitchari with mixed dhal

Another I have to call out is Sooji. I was
craving something sweet and "rice pudding" came to mind. Sooji Halwa is the Indian version. I pulled out a recipe from the net, and really, all I had to do was:

1. Heat ghee with almonds (or cashews)
2. Take the almonds out and add pour sooji
3. Stir and add cardamon,wait till golden
4. Add hot water little by little not to make lumps
5. At your prefered texture, pour in maple syrup or sugar and stir fast!
6. Garnish with the nuts

I'd have to say, my first attempt...I give it 5 stars!

With a bite left in the bowl, I realized I hadn't taken a picture...hence below.

On a day like this....(snow)

It's a holiday today, and the weather is damp and wet.

There's snow and slush everywhere!

But once in a while its relieving. I stayed in bed till nine, was in no rush to do anything or go anywhere.

I was calm and stable in my yoga practice, and cooking breakfast after a hot bath was just,

pleasant.

Cardamon & Cinnamon pancakes with flaxseeds

 

Sometimes your body just needs days like this!

Rosewater and eye exercises

This is a treatment I recieved in India, when I consulted my doctor about my "tired eyes".

It's said that 90% of your fatigue comes from the eyes. There's a lot of strain on them.

Lay down, and put a few drops of rosewater in the eyes.

1. Roll the eyeball clockwise, then counter clockwise
2. Look up, and down
3. Blink a few times

The first few times, you may feel burning, but it only lasts for a few seconds.

Your eyes will feel lighter and brighter in no time.
I do this in the morning. Very refreshing!

Cafe "crisscross"

 

Red lentil soup and fresh bread (bakery "breadworks") at new location in omotesando.

Spending time in lofty atmosphere chatting long hours on life & travels...

So much positivity, forwardness and limitless possibilities.

Herb fair, using coriander

One of favorite herbs is Coriander, called Pachee/Shanzai/Kosai/Cilantro, depending on the language.

I love it for its flavor, and ayurvedically, it has antiseptic purposes and helps to detoxify the body.

Picked up a plant from the herb fair at our market and used it for some poha.

Wow, its so delicious when its freshly picked!

and I was able to use the stems (diced well) too!

local bakery and sweet treats for winter

In my neighborhood of Yoga

( Yes! Apparently the name of the area comes from "yoga". Old writings on the Indian philosophy were found at the shrine long ago.)

 

On Thursdays, Ms. Kurono opens her bakery shop at the local vegetable market.

She creates her yeast from fresh vegetables and fruits, and uses all-natural ingredient.

The German-style rye bread with ghee below:



This is another treat from a local organic shop, f&f, a sweet Japanese baked potato:

light dinner ideas for the full moon

Feeling a bit more Kapha in my body this week as we get closer to the Full Moon on Saturday.
Meaning, I feel some heaviness and drowsiness.

A few dishes I cooked the beginning of this week:

1. Simple Kitchari with red & yellow bell peppers

2. Japanese udon with cabbage, konbu and ginger

I want to be extra careful the rest of the week to eat dinner before 8, and get up before sunrise.

Despite the cold, keep moving with an open and positive mindset, always!

But don't make yourself too busy, and move at your pace.

Listen to your body.

Be honest, study and practice, and have compassion.
 

My favorite restaurant (nepalese)

"nepalico" in Shibuya,Tokyo.

Once you enter, you forget you're in the busy city.
I absolutely adore the atmosphere, including music, interior, cleaness, the owners & staff...
and the gentle & delicate delicious food.

The dhal bhat is the typical nepalese meal which includes it all, so balanced, satisfying all the senses.
After laughs and good times, chai at the end, I took a pleasant walk down the main street to daikanyama, and stopped at (another of my "favorites") the bookstore.

Natural healing

It feels like a long time ago, when I used to rely on western medicine every single day, and use the microwave oven.

Despite how "health-concious" I thought I was in other parts of my life,
both these actions are not "healthy" for the body, and can increase vata and imbalance in your system.

Another very important factor in your environment is the AIR, so make sure you let the air circulate in your room, keep it spick and span clean!, and maintain comfortable breathing air.

I use a humidifier in my room as the heater is extremely drying, and I like to use an aroma diffuser for a pleasant smell.

In addition, the essential oils work as natural remedies too!

Teatree and Eucalytus, Peppermint for coughs, sore throats, antiseptic purposes
Bergamot and Lavender for relaxation 

Remedy for "when you feel bloated with gas"

Every few days, my mother complains about the excess gas in her system.
And I totally understand!

Until a month ago, I was exactly the same.
So I consulted my Ayurvedic doctor and "those days" are completely gone!

1. Drink hot water. (Just keep sipping through hot water all day)
2. Don't take any cold or raw foods or drinks
3. Include a pinch of hing in food
4. Take a walk 30 minutes after eating

It's the excess vata (wind) whirling in all the spaces throughout your body. And remember, medicine or supplements are "drying" so avoid taking such products.

There's something about Upma...

Upma is a traditional breakfast menu in India.

Its broken semolina, something close to couscous, but a bit more..."mushier"

The first time I tried it, to be honest, I didn't like it at all. Compared to all the delicious dishes, I thought, why Upma?

But funny how you acquire tastes. The more I ate it, the more I liked it, and you just can't stop!

I prefer a bit drier so I used less water for this one:

Recipe for Upma

1. Put 1 cup Sooji powder on heat for about 7 minutes until they are golden brown. Put aside to cool.
2. In the same pan, heat 2 tsp ghee, and add cumin, mustard seeds, teaspoon of mixed dahl and 8 curry leaves.
3. Add grated ginger, minced onion and carrots.
4. Pour in 3 cups of water and cook till veggies are soft.
5. Add a pinch of salt for taste, and slowly pour in the Sooji (trying not to make lumps), churn until you get the texture of your preference!